The Diaries
 
November 29th 2008
:: 2008 :: 10/27 - 10/28 - 10/29 - 10/30 - 10/31
11/01 - 11/02 & 11/03 - 11/04 - 11/05- 11/06 - 11/07 - 11/08 & 11/09 - 11/10 - 11/11 - 11/12 - 11/13 - 11/14 - 11/15 - 11/16 - 11/17 - 11/18 - 11/19 - 11/20 - 11/21 - 11/22 - 11/23 - 11/25 - 11/26 - 11/27 - 11/28
11/29 - 11/30
12/01 - 12/02
- Anniversary of the rescue -  

During the night, the wind rose, pushing some clouds, but they do not prevent us from admiring the extraordinary nocturnal sky. To rediscover the celestial arch is a luxury for the poor townspeople dazzled by neon’s of the night that we are. The Milky Way blocks the sky and the constellations shine brightly. Impatient, sometimes stressed, we do not look that often at the sky.

Sylvain evokes in his manner the shortage of food articles



Here we are at the anniversary of the rescue of our abandoned Madagascans. Sent by the governor of the island of France, the sub lieutenant of Tromelin, ordering the corvette “La Dauphine”, had taken care to embark, on its board, a canoe of 25 feet in length, undoubtedly one of those who are listed in a state of the crafts of the company of India where it is pointed that they were intended to fish for the sick of the hospital.

Happier than their three predecessors, of Tromelin finds on arrival a “handy” time and launches the canoe in question to send it to ground, under the orders of Mr. Page, one of the officers. The transhipment seems to be carried out without major difficulties; the seven surviving women and the eight month old baby immediately set off to the island of France where “La Dauphine” arrives on December 14, 1776.
The next day, the baby is baptized in the parish of St-Louis, in Port-Louis, and receives the name of Moyse (obviousness) and the first name of Jacques (that of the governor). The Malagasy name of his mother is mentioned on the act of christening: she is called Semiavou, which can result in: “the one who is not bumptious”.

The seven women are declared free, but in spite of this indulgence their name of origin is taken away from authority: Semiavou from now on will be called Eve, usual violence which undoubtedly does not disturb its author. Think, with a stroke of the pen, deny a whole existence, what an importance!

Page, blue officer, which means not noble, was not rewarded for his rescue. At the time of the return voyage towards Lorient, the following year, “La Dauphine” was attacked by a corsair. If the corvette succeeds in containing his adversary after a long battle which lasted all day long, Page had a leg smashed to pieces by a cannonball.